Loose-leaf binder



March 31, 1931. F. H. cRuMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March. 5, 1930 2 Sheets- $heet l INVENTOR fr qn/fflfrzzmp ATTORNEY March 31, 1931. F. H. CRUMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Fild March 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fig- (122 Z (ramp ATTORNEY WITNESS f/ m Patented Mar. 31, 1931 FRANK H. CRUMP, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application filed March 5,

This invention relates to loose leaf binders of the type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,710,450, granted April 23, 1929, and characterizedby rigid top and bottom cover sections provided with recesses or compartments therein opening into the inner ends of the sections and into which the opposite ends of a flexible back cover are extended and are yieldingly and niovably secured to allow accominodationof the back cover to variable spacing adjustment of the top and bottom cover sections, which latter are, held in variably spaced relation by extensible connectors'hingedly secured at each end of the top and bottom cover sections. 7

In loose leaf binders of this type, no means have beenprovided for determinately adj ustably securing the back section in the top and bottom cover sections, and one object of this invention is the provision, in a binder of this type, of a back cover adjustably'anchored or secured at one end in a recess in one cover section and yieldingly secured at its other end in a recess in the other cover section.

Loose leaf binders of the type disclosed in my prior patent aforesaid are also provided with binding posts secured to a bottom cover hinge plate to extend upwardly into closed openings or perforationsin the loose sheets or leaves and cooperating with similar binding postssecured to and extending downwardly from a top clamping or locking bar and into other closed openin s or perforations in the sheets to hold the sheets assembled thereon between the top and bottom cover sections.

In actualpractice it has been found that unless thesebinding posts operating from opposite top and bottom sides of thebinder and sheets, pass each other at least one-half inch at all times and under all positions of variable spacing of the top and bottom cover sections,

the sheets will buckle and become detached from the binding posts. A further object of this invention is the provision of means opera ating automaticallyto prevent such buckling and detachment of sheets. v

The" structural embodiments providing these improved features and accomplishing the objects stated will be more clearly made apparent from the following detailed descrip- 1930, 'Serial No. 433,355.

tion which is to be readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and in which I Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a binder embodying the present invention, the leaves beingomitted and the top and bottom cover sections witl their hinge plates, ratchet straps, and binding posts being shown in opened ontspread position with part of said cover sections appearing in section and disclosing the back edge pockets or recesses,

Figure 2 is a too edge'plan view of the binder shown in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is atransverse horizontal section through the binder as shown in Fig. 2,

Figure 1' is a transverse horizontal section on an enlarged scale through one of the ratchet'extensible straps connecting the top and bottom cover section, the line of section being indicated at H in Fig. 1,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the top and bottom cover hinge plates and the back cover and its adjustable and compensating connections to said hinge plates, detached as a unit from the top and bottom cover sections and outspread,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the separate top clamping bar of the binder with its depending binding posts and its associ ated strap-locking sliding bar,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary reversed perspective of the hinge plate carried by the bottom cover section showing one of the hingedly attached binding posts, ratchet strap sections, and back cover connector plates in their operative positions,thereon,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 88 of Figure 1, v

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the ratchet section of one of the connecting ratchet p r v.

Figure 10 is an associated perspective view ofthe cooperating pawl-carrying strap secp: V

Figure 11 is alongitudinal section through one of the binding posts of the top clamping bar taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 6,

Figure 12 is a similar section through a modified form. of binding post providing an intermediate post section for extension purposes,

Figure 13 is a detail perspective of one of the connector elements fixed to the recessenclosed ends of the flexible back cover.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that I have provided substantially rigid top and bottom cover sections 1 and 2, respectively, each formed with a recess or pocket 3 therein open at its inner edge to receive the opposite ends of a flexible back cover 4.

To the inner edge of the top cover section 1 on its inner face is fixedly attached, as by rivets or other means, an elongated plate 5 having an inner edge of reduced length formed as a hinge leaf 6. To the oppose inner edge of the bottom cover section 2 is applied and fixedly attached elongated plate 7 corresponding in length to and confronting the plate 5 and having its inner edge of full length constituting a hinging leaf and formed with a plurality of spaced hinging cars similarly to the plate 5. Pintle pins or wires 8 extend through the hinging ears of both plates 5 and 7 and hingedly secure tiereto the opposite ends or" a pair of extensible ratchet connectors shown more particularly in Figures 4, 8, 9, and 10. These extensible connectors correspond structurally to those of my prior patent above referred to, and comprise slidingly interfitting sections 9 and 10, each of which has its outer end formed with a hinging car 11 hingedly mounted upon the hinging pintle pin 8 of the respective plates 5 and 7. The sections 9 and are oi channeled formation with the former provided with a parallel series of longitudinally extending ratchet teeth 12 en gageable from beneath and spaced by an elongated slot 13 in which the shank 14, upstanding from a spring pawl 15 mounted internally in the channeled section 10, rides. The end of the spring pawl is provided with spaced upstanding teeth 16 aligning with the ratchet teeth 12 from beneath and oppose movement of sections 9 and 10 to increase their over-all length. By depressing the stud 14 and releasing the spring pawl the sections may be extended to a maximum overall leng h or may be reversely and relatively moved to decrease their over-all length to a minimum predetermined by the size of the sections 9 and 10 and the length of the series of ratchetteeth 12. Since these pairs of channeled ratchet connectors are hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the plates 5 and 7 fixed to the top and bottom cover sections, extension of the over-all length of the channeled sections 9 and 10 will effect an increased spacing between the top and bottom cover sections and decrease of the overall length of these ratchet connectors will correspondingly reduce the spacing.

To the plate 7 fixed to the bottom cover section, an elongated binding post strap or plate 17 is hingedly secured through a plurality of hinging ears 18 mounted between spaced hinging ears of the plate 7 and secured thereon by the hinging pintle pin 8 as will be best seen in Figures 5 and 7. The bar or plate 17 at its inner hinging edge and at points adjacent the opposite ends thereof is provided with lateral extensions 19 from which extend sectional binding posts 20, the detailed construction of which will hereinafter he referred to. Intermediate of these binding posts and between two of the spaced cars 18 of the bar 17. A hinging eye 21 formed on the inner end of an elongated connector plate 22 is mounted by the pintle 8 and extends outwardly therefrom and substantially beyond the plate 7 in a direction transversely of the bottom cover, this plate 22 being independent of and hingedly secured to the fixed plate 7, and extending into the recess 8 of the bottom cover section 2 for connection to one end of the flexible back 4. The point of connection is selectively variable to correspond to the extent of permissible extension of the ratchet straps 9, 10, and to this end the plate 22 is formed with a longitudinally extending series of spaced slots 23 therein. The end edge of the flexible back 4 has permanently fixed thereto a plate 24, best seen in Figure 18, which plate is positioned at the edge of the flexible back and is provided with an offset outwardly extending arm 25, terminating in a transversely extended connector bar or element 26 of ater width than the slots 23 but which, owing to the flexible nature of the back 4, may be turned to extend through the slot and overlie the top face of the plate 22, detachably fixing the end of the cover 4 inserted in the recess of the bot-tom cover section 2 to the connector plate 22 hinged to the bottom cover plate 7 in common with one end of the ratchet extensible strap connectors 9, 10.

To the hinged plate 5 fixed to the inner edge of the top cover section 1 in opposition to plate 7 and at a point in alignment with plate 22, another connector plate 27, having a hinging ear 28 at its inner end, is similarly secured by the pintle 8 of plate 5 and extends transversely of the top cover section and within its recess 3. This connector plate 27 being hinged similarly to the plate 22, in common with the other hinged ends of the ratchet extensible strap connectors and being that one of the two connector plates which would normally be moved by extension or reduction of the over-all length of the connector straps, is provided with an elongated slot 29 extending longitudinally thereof within the area of the recess 3. A plate 30 identical with the plate 24, as shown in Fig. 18, and applied to the bottom cover section end of the back 4, is fixed to the opposite end of the back and provided with a similarly ofi'set arm terminating in. a laterally extendingfinger or connector element 32 which by fiexure of the flexible back 4' is. inserted through the elongated slot 27 and slidabl-y mounts the end oi the flexible cover relative to the connector plate 27. The outer end of the plate 27 is formed with a rolled edge in which the shank of the outer end of a bowed compression spring 33 is detachably anchored. This bowedspring is preferably provided in its outer portion with a pair of spring-coils 34 and at its opposite top and bottom portionswith a second pair of opposed coils 35. The inner end of the bowed spring between the coils 35 and overlying the plate 27 is formed witha rectilinear portion 36 which is inserted over theinnerface of the offset arm ofthe back-carried connector element 32 and by reason of its com pression normally against the oii'set arm tends to draw the attached end of the cover 4 within the recess3 of the top cover moving the connector element 32 longitudinally of the slot 29 toward its outer end. When the ratchet extensible connectors 9, 10 are adj usted to increase the over-all length of the connectors and the spacingv between the top and bottom cover sections, the plate 27 will be moved longitudinally relatively'to the connector element 32 which slides-inits slot and the outer end of the plate 27t-o which the outer end of the bowed spring 33' is anchored, will distend, causing the flexible back 4 to I fit snugly to leavesinserted between the top and bottom cover sections in accordance with the adjustment of the ratchet extensible connectors. When pressure against the outer end of the bowed spring is reduced or released by contraction of the ratchet extensible con-f nectors, the tension of the bowed spring acting against the connector element 32 will move the end of the flexible.- back 4 inwardly in the recess 33 of the top cover 1 in compensation for the decrease in connector length. Obviously in the expansion or extension of the over-all length of the ratchet connectors the top cover section and its connector strap 27, will move relatively to the end of the flexible back 4 within the recess so that in effeet the flexible back cover 4 is withdrawn from the recess to an extent to compensate for the increased spacing of the top and hottom cover sections.

A flexible back cover 4 of one: width is thus adapted to binders of. varying thicknesses employing extensible connectors having diiferent extents of maximum adjustment or extension. Where, in the present case, ratchet extensible connectors 9 and .10 are of greater possible overall length than those illustrated, the connector. element 26 by means of which the end of the back4 within the recess of thebottom cover section is fixedly anchored to the connector plate 22, and which asshown is seated in the outer most slot 23, will be moved inwardly and seated in an intermediate slot 23, depending upon the increase in the maximum permissible extension of the extensible connectors employed. The bowed spring 33 is intended, in practice, to have a maximum movement approximating 3 in length and the slot 29 in the connector plate 27 will have at least a corresponding length. rrdjustment for positioning the back 4 relatively to the top and bottom sections and-in conformity with the permissible extension of the extensibleconnectors, is initially made in the assembly and manufacture of the binder through theselectedpositioning of the connecting element 26in one of the recesses 23 of the bottom cover section recess connector plate 22, the action of the bowed spring 33 thereafter compensating for adjustment of the extensible connectors and serving to provide a close fitting back cover protecting the back edges of the leaves inserted between the top and bottom cover sections. These leaves as in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to are provided with edge pockets or notches within which the ratchet straps 9, 10 will be received and are like wise provided with a series of closed openings'or perforations therethrough. In order to retain a series of leaves, thus prcpared, between the top and bottom cover sections, I utilize in conjunction with the hinged plate 17 and its upstanding binding posts .20, a separate top clamping bar orplate designed to overlie the top of such a series of leaves in substantial alignment withthe hinged post plate 17. As shown in Figure 6,this separate bar or plate 37 is, as shown in my prior patent, provided with depending binding posts 36 which in the present case correspond in construction to the binding post 20 and which are designed to extend downwardly in through perforations or openings 1n the se-' ries'of insertedsheets between those entered by the binding'posts 20. Mounted upon the upper face of the clamping plate37 for sliding' movement thereover, is a latching plate 38 having a series of longitudinal slots 40 therein and guided forrectilinear movement longitudinally of the clamping plate by means of studs 41 upstanding therefrom through the slots 40. The clamping plate 37 has its outer edge notched as in'iny prior patent and as shown at 42 in Fig. 6 to align with the edge pockets in the sheets and to receive the ratchet extensible strap connectors 9, 10 -therein. The latching plate 39 has its inner edge, overlying the notches 42,

correspondingly notched but to a greater extent longltudinally to prov de closing fingers .43 which in one position of the sliding latch-v ing plate39will close the outer edges of the notches 42 in plate37 and retain the strap connectors therein as shown in Figure 8. 7 Means for releasably holding'the latching plate 39 in a strap-retaining position is provided in the form of a leaf spring 44 anchored at one end to the under face of the clamping bar 37 (see Fig. 6) and extending upwardly through an opening provided by a recess 45 in the inner edge of the clamping plate to position a latching; offset 46 formed at its free end for projection through a cerrespondine; slot 47 formed in the latching plate 38 and traversing and extendine outwardly beyond the sides of an elongated slot 48 formed in the latching plate 39 at one end through which the shank 49 of a pin 50 attached to the spring 44 will slide when the pin is depressed to lower latching: offset 46 from the latching slot 47 and permit the latching; plate 39 to be moved from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8 upwardly to move the fingers 43 from retaining relation to the ratchet extensible strap connectors 9, 10 and permit their withdrawal from the recessed edge of the clamping bar.

This action is, of course, employed when it is desired .to release the strap connectors Cab for adjustment or for the insertion or removal of leaves from the binding posts 20 and 38.

In practice it has been found that unless such binding posts operating: from opposite sides of a series of inserted sheets through perforations in said sheets, pass or overlap each other at least at all times and in all positions of extension of the strap connectors, the sheets will buckle or fall out of the binder.

I have provided for automatic accommo dation of the overlap of the binding posts to meet this objection by positioning; the clamping bar 37 with its binding; posts 36 and the bottom post plate 17 and its binding posts 20 in aligning position and by formin the binding posts, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Referring; specifically to Fig. 11 it will be seen that the binding post therein shown is composed of two sections; a base 51 fixed as by riveting; either to the extension or offset 19 of the hinge plate 17 or to the clamping bar 37, and provided at its outer end with an internally threaded socket 52 therein. A second section 53 is employed having; a base provided with a threaded plus; 54 extending therefrom and threading in the socket 552 of the base section. This section 53 is formed in part as a hollow tubular member and telescopically houses a tubular end plunger 55 projected outwardly therefrom by means of a coiled compression spring 56 and yielding; inwardly in response to pressure. This tubular plunger 55 is retained within the tubular member 53 by an outwardly flared inner end 57, which is restrained by the inturned outer end 58 of the wall of the hollow tubular member 53 in which it is housed and telescopically mounted. In some cases in the position of minimum over-all length of the extensible connectors the yielding SPIHIQ} extended ends 55 of the binding posts may forcibly contact with the plates 17 or clampinn bars 37 in which instance they will yield inwardly. As the spacing between the top and bottom sections is increased by the addition of sheets and by the extension of the connectors 9, 10, the end plungers 55 will be correspondingly projected by their springs 56. The over-all length of the binding: posts, including the fully-extended length of their yielding ends 55, will be prelie'ured to the maximum permissible extension of the connecting straps or other extensible connectors to provide always the necessary extent of overlap between the upwardly and downwardly extending ends of the binding posts 20 and 38. here, as is sometimes the case. the binding posts are required to have an abnormal length, an intermediate section. 59 may be interposed between the base 51 and the outer end section 53 as shown in Fig. 12. This intermediate section which can be made in variable lengths to cover different extents of expansion and sizes of extensible connectors, will obviously be provided with an internally threaded socket 630 to receive the threaded stud 54 of the outer section and with a projecting: threaded stud 61 at its opposite end to seat in the socket 52 of the base member.

The binding posts as thus formed can therefore be made at all times to provide for the required safety margin of overlap of op positely directed binding; posts in each particular construction and for each particular maximum extension of a binder so that the buckling and loosening of sheets which heretofore has been experienced will be obviated.

The structural features of the binder shown and described herein, while representing one form embodying the present invention, are intended to be illustrative of the invention rather than restrictive thereof and the construction is subjectto variation and modification to suit different conditions of manufacture and use in consonance with the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, substantially rigid top and bottom cover sections having recesses formed therein, extensible connectors hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections, binding posts hingedly secured to the bottom cover section and extending upwardly therefrom to cooperate with openings in leaves inserted between said sections, a separate top clamping bar adapted to overlie said leaves and having other binding posts depending therefrom to extend downwardly in other openings in said leaves and cooperate with the first-named binding posts to hold the ltil) leaves between the cover sections, means on said separate top clamping bar for releasably' with variance in the spacing between thetop.

and bottom cover sections.

2. In a loose leaf binder, substantially rigid top and bottom cover sections having recesses formed therein, extensible connectors hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections, binding posts hingedly secured to the bottom cover section and extending upwardly therefrom to cooperate with openings in leaves inserted between said sections, a separate'top clamping bar adapted to overlie said leaves and having other binding posts depending therefrom to extend downwardly into other openings in said vleaves and cooperate with the first-named binding posts to hold the leaves between the cover sections, means on said separate top clamping bar for releasablysecuring it to sa1d extensible connectors, a

flexible back cover section connecting the top and bottom cover sections having its opposite ends inserted in the recesses in said cover sections and cooperating connector plates hingedly secured at one end to said cover sections in common with said extensible connectors and extending into the cover section recesses, adjustable means for fixedly connecting the other end of one of said connector plates to one of said flexible cover ends, and

means for yieldingly connecting the other of said plates at its other end to said other flexible cover end. I

3. In a loose leaf binder, substantially rigid top and bottom cover sections having recesses formed therein, extensible connectors hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections, binding posts hingedly secured to the bottom cover section and extending upwardly therefrom to cooperate with openings in leaves inserted between said sections, a separate top clamping bar adapted to overlie said leaves andihaving other binding posts depending therefrom to extend downwardly into other openings in said leaves and cooperate with the first-named binding posts to hold the leaves between the cover sections, means on said separate top clamping bar for releasably securing it to said extensible connectors, a

flexible back cover section connecting the top 7 and bottom cover sect-ions having its opposite ends inserted in the recesses in said cover sections and co-operating connector plates hingedly secured at one end tosaid cover sections in common with said extensible connectors and extending into the cover section re cesses, and means for detachably connecting said other ends of the connector plates to the flexible back cover.

7 4-. In a loose leaf binder, substantially rigid I top and bottom cover sections having recesses formed therein, extensible connectors,

hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections, binding posts hingedly secured to the bottom cover section and extending upwardly therefrom to: cooperate with openings in leaves inserted between said sections, a separate top clamping bar adapted to overlie said leaves and having other binding posts depending therefrom to extend downwardly into other openings in said leaves and cooperate with the said first-named binding posts to hold the leaves between the cover sections, means on said. separate top clamping bar for releasably securing it to said extensible connectors, a flexible baclrcover section connecting the top and bottom cover sections having its opposite ends inserted in the recesses in saidcover sectionsand co-operating connector plates hingedly secured at one end to sa1d cover sections in common with said extensible top and bottom cover sections having recesses therein, extensible connectors hingedly connecte'dlat their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections and adjustable to vary the spacing between said sections in conformitywith the thickness of sheets inserted therebetweembinding posts connected'to the bottom cover section and extending upwardly therefrom to cooperate with openings in the inserted leaves, a separate top clamping plate having other binding posts depending therefrom and adapted to extend downwardly into other openings in said leaves and said element having means for releasably securing it to said extensible connectors, a flexible back cover-having its; 013- posite ends extended into said recesses, one of said ends belng ad ustably fixed to a cover section in one recess and the other of said ends having a yielding connection with the other cover section in its recess permitting automatic accommodation of said flexible cover to variance in the spacing of the top and bottom cover sections.

6. A loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 4 in which oneof said connector plates within a recess is providedlwith a plurality of spaced openings therein in which the connector element on one end of'the back section is select'vely fixed and in which the other connector plate within the other cover recess is provided with an elongated slot therein in which the cooperating connector element fixed to the other end of the flexible cover is slidably seatec.

T. in a loose leaf binder, substantially rigid top and bottom cover sections having recesses therein open at their inner edges, extensible connectors hingedly red at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections at their inner ends and adjustable to y the spacing between said sections, bind connected to the bottom cover secextended upwardly therefrom to extend up through openings in leaves inserted betwee said cover sections, a separate top ciai L ing element having other binding posts adapted to depend through openings in said leaves and said element having means for releasably securing it to said extensible con ectors, a flexible back cover having its opposite ends extended into said cover recesses and provided with fixed connector elements thereon, cooperating connector plates hingedly secured at one end to said top and bottom cover sections in common with said extensible connectors and extending in said cover section recesses, one of said connector plates within its recess being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses therein in one of which the connector element on the back cover end within said cover recess is selectively seated and the other of said connector plates within its cover recess having an elongated longitudinally extending slot therein in which the connector element fixed to the other end of the flexible cover is releasably and slidably seated, and a spring connecting the outer end of said connector plate with the inner side of the connector element slidable therein to keep said flexible cover under tension.

8. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back cover secured to and connecting said top and bottom cover sections, extensible connectors hingedly secured at each end to said top and bottom cover sections and adjustable to vary the spacing between said sections, aplate secured to the bottom cover section having binding posts thereon arranged to extend upwardly in openings in leaves inserted between the top and bottom sections, a separate plate to over- -iie the top of the inserted leaves having other binding posts thereon depending downwardly therefrom to extend into other openings in the leaves and said element having means for releasably securing it to said extensible connectors, said upwardly and downwardly extending binding posts having yielding spring-extended ends and overlapping to retain the leaves thereon between the top and bottom cover sections.

9. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back secured to and connecting said cover sections, leaves having a plurality of edge pockets therein inserted between said cover sections, a plurality of in dividually extensible connectors hingedly secured at their opposite ends to said top and bottom cover sections and engaging in the edge pockets of the leaves, a bar hingedly secured to the bo tom cover section having binding posts thereon extending upwardly into openings in the leaves, a separate clamping bar arranged to overlie the leaves having binding posts thereon extending downwardly in other openings in the leaves, means on said separate bar for releasably securing it to said plurality of extensible connectors, said upwardly and downwardly extending binding posts having yielding spring extended ends and portions overlapping to retain the leaves thereon between the, top and bottom cover sections.

10. in a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back secured to and connecting said cover sections, leaves having a plurality of edge pockets therein inserted between said cover sections, a plurality of individually extensible connectors hingedly secured at their opposite ends to said top and bottom cover sections and engaging in the edge pockets of the leaves, a bar hingedly secured to the bottom cover section having binding posts thereon extending upwardly into openings in the leaves, a separate clamping bar arranged to overlie the leaves having binding posts thereon extending downwardly in other openings in the leaves, means on said separate bar for releasably securing it to said plurality of extensible connectors, said upwardly and downwardly extending binding posts having yielding spring-extended ends and portions overlapping in their maximum extension to retain thereon a maximum number of leaves between the top and bottom cover sections.

11. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back secured to and connecting said cover sections, extensible connectors interposed between and hingedly secured at their opposite ends to the top and bottom cover sections, binding posts secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom cover section to extend upwardly through openings in leaves inserted between the top and bottom sections, a separate clamping plate arranged to overlie the top of the inserted leaves in the line of said binding posts and having means for releasably securing it to said extensible connectors, said binding posts having yielding spring-extended end sections adapted to extend upwardly in perforations in leaves of varying thickness and yielding downwardly responsively to pressure of said separate clamping plate.

12. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover sections, a back secured to and connectllO ing said sections, extensible connections between said top and bottom cover sections, and binding posts secured to said cover sections and extending between said sections in spaced relation and through openings in leaves inserted therebetween, said binding posts each comprising interthreading sections and including a yielding spring-extended end section.

13. In a loose leaf binder, top and bottom cover seetions,'a back secured to and connecting said sections, means connecting and adapted to variably space said sections, and means for retaining leaves inserted'between said sections including binding posts extending through openings in the leaves and hav ing yielding spring-extended end portions.

14. In a loose leaf binder, a bindingpost comprising a supporting base section, an intermediate extension section in detachable threaded engagement therewith, and a terminal section in detachable threaded engagement With said intermediate section and housing a telescopically mounted end plunger, and a spring normally extending said plunger outwardly therefrom.

FRANK H. CRUMP. 

